Found: Fall Color in Hope Valley!

If it’s fall, I have to go looking for some of those colors of the season. And when I find it, I can’t help transferring those sights on to memory cards and bringing them home. And in course of time, the pictures find their way here onto the blog. This autumn, I’m tipsy from a leaf-peeping trip to Hope Valley.

Hope Valley

Now, Hope Valley is a small mountain community up on the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California. Nestled at 7000 ft., this valley on the eastern slopes of the Sierras is said to have been an area frequently traversed by prospectors during California’s Gold Rush.

Some Mormon soldiers who passed this way after the Mexican-American War, way back in 1848 are said to have christened the area. It seems when the weary soldiers set eyes upon this flatland in the mountains, it lifted their spirits and they thought it apt to call the place Hope Valley.

Well, I got a high when I went that way looking for fall color, and found it, too! We were on our way back after a short fall trip to Lake Tahoe, and only I know how much lifting my sprits needed around then. I must say — Hope Valley delivered!

And now it’s time to share that elation. Here are some of the sights from our leaf-peeping stops in this valley on the mountains:

Stop 1:

Stop 2:

(Also from) Stop 2:

Stop 3:

Stop 4:

What to know before you go

Before I go any further, let me also tell you that –

• not all of the valley was yellow and orange but there were some beautiful colorful patches in and around it and they were such pretty pictures.
• I found these warm colors of the season in early October.

How to get to this valley on the Sierras

This alpine valley lies south of South Lake Tahoe and just beside California State Route 88 as you drive further south towards Carson Pass.

If you’d like to set your maps to some of the spots that showcase the colors of this picturesque valley, look for Desolation Hotel, a meadow further down the road (by the wildlife area parking lot on Hwy 88) and the Red Barn.

I’m sure there more places in the area where you can stop to see fall color. There were many colorful spots beside this part of Carson Pass Highway. Go a little later in the month and there should be more fall foliage to see.

And if you are driving that way in winter, you might want to make a stop at Hope Valley Sno Park.

More:
Fall foliage from different destinations
From the Sierra Nevada Mountains

Linking to —
Pictorial Tuesday
My Corner of the World
Thursday Tree Love

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